Coping with Rapid Changes in IT: An Update

Dealing with rapid changes in technology within and outside of their company is a constant challenge for IT managers. About two decades ago, a series of studies and in particular Benamati & Lederer (2001) showed that a range of coping strategies to deal with such rapid changes exists. These coping strategies range from the use of external support by consultants or vendors, or IT education and training to keep up with the demands of new technologies, to simply enduring change and trying to weather technological trends in the belief that they may not have a substantial impact on the company\u27s business. We argue that the current trend towards digital transformation further accelerates technological change in many companies. In this study, we therefore present a conceptual replication of the original series of studies on coping mechanisms and strategies to deal with the challenges of rapid technological change. Our findings indicate that the variety of coping strategies and mechanisms employed by IT managers has become more diverse. In particular, we find that today IT managers try to prepare their companies more proactively for technological change by providing the necessary resources and by creating an appropriate organizational environment, rather than by relying on external support by consultants or vendors, or even by simply ignoring technological developments altogether

The Online Consumer Trust Construct: A Web Merchant Practitioner Perspective

If companies are to enjoy long-term success in the Internet marketplace, they must effectively manage the complex, multidimensional process of building online consumer trust. eMerchants must understand the characteristics of web interfaces, policies, and procedures that promote trust and enact this knowledge in the form of specific trust-building mechanisms. Therefore, eMerchants must exercise a variety of trust-building techniques in the design of their online consumer interface as well as the principles upon which they operate. In doing so, eMerchants look to a variety of sources, outside the discussions available in academic literature, which influence and govern their perception of online consumer trust development. The purpose of this paper is to identify these sources and leverage the theoretical framework of previous academic literature by incorporating these practitioner sources into a framework from which future research efforts of online consumer trust can be based

The importance of usability features in enhancing online communication satisfaction

Web 2.0 is providing more responsive, interactive and online platforms of participation and engagement within users in organizations. The growth of the Internet gives a significant contribution to the development of online systems. The acceptance and usage of online system in organizations depend on various key factors such as ease of use, interactivity and usability. This study evaluates the importance of usability of online information management systems (IMS) in the context of user attitudes to online communication satisfaction which drives usage. Based on a survey of 223 employees at four research universities in Malaysia, this study adapted the communication satisfaction and usability to examine the online satisfaction in using IMS. The results indicate that there is a positive and significant relationship between usability and online communication satisfaction toward IMS usage. This study reveals the importance of usability in understanding the requirements in improving communication satisfaction, especially in developing online systems

The Demand for Information Technology Knowledge and Skills: An Exploratory Investigation

Organizations are always in search of appropriate information technology knowledge and skills to carry out normal business operations. Such demand is directly impacted by the overall economic conditions. During stressful economic times, managers, facing tough budgetary pressure, are farced to examine more thoroughly what knowledge and skills are needed to survive. This paper investigates the desired information technology knowledge and skills that employers are searching for in these turbulent times. We examine the content ofjob advertisements for information technology professionals placed in an online job placement website over a 2 year period, 2001-2002

Introducing Competencies in Organizations

In the fast-changing world of IT, relevant competencies are getting more important as these determine how successful you can function in practice. As a consequence, organizations are introducing competency frameworks like the European e-Competence Framework (e-CF, 2014) in their IT departments. However, for many organizations it is unclear what good practices and pitfalls are when introducing such a framework. In this paper this topic is studied by analysing 13 interviews with IT- and HR-managers who are (or recently have been) involved in a transition towards the use of competencies with their IT-staff

Assessing the Need for Online STEM Certifications in a Developing Country

This research investigated the nascent, growing online Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) certification and training industry. Developing countries faced a significant shortage in semi-skilled and skilled labor in STEM-related industries such as pharmaceuticals, light manufacturing, and technology. Despite the growth in the IT certification industry and the internet, the online STEM certification industry has yet to develop. The goal of this research was to evaluate the need for STEM certifications in developing countries. The hypothesis was that if online STEM certifications are marketed in a developing country, then there will be a significant need for these certifications. The methodology for this IRB-approved study involved administering online STEM certifications to individuals interesting in receiving a certificate to accrue one or more of the following benefits: increase salary, receive a promotion, switch companies, and improve reputation. For individuals who received a passing score on the certification (75% or more), the researcher administered a survey with questions regarding reasons for taking certification and the expected benefits. Results from the study support the hypothesis and show that there is a need for certifications in developing countries. This research has major ramifications for governments of developing countries, NGOs, UNESCO, World Bank, investors, and other organizations looking to increase GDP growth and positively impact education and economy in developing countries while engaging in productive commerce. Further research is required across a broader range of certifications and in trainings

Assessing the Need for Online STEM Certifications in a Developing Country

This research investigated the nascent, growing online Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) certification and training industry. Developing countries faced a significant shortage in semi-skilled and skilled labor in STEM-related industries such as pharmaceuticals, light manufacturing, and technology. Despite the growth in the IT certification industry and the internet, the online STEM certification industry has yet to develop. The goal of this research was to evaluate the need for STEM certifications in developing countries. The hypothesis was that if online STEM certifications are marketed in a developing country, then there will be a significant need for these certifications. The methodology for this IRB-approved study involved administering online STEM certifications to individuals interesting in receiving a certificate to accrue one or more of the following benefits: increase salary, receive a promotion, switch companies, and improve reputation. For individuals who received a passing score on the certification (75% or more), the researcher administered a survey with questions regarding reasons for taking certification and the expected benefits. Results from the study support the hypothesis and show that there is a need for certifications in developing countries. This research has major ramifications for governments of developing countries, NGOs, UNESCO, World Bank, investors, and other organizations looking to increase GDP growth and positively impact education and economy in developing countries while engaging in productive commerce. Further research is required across a broader range of certifications and in trainings

A Process Model for Public Sector It Management to Answer the Needs of Digital Transformation

While organizations get prepared for digitalization, so must their IT departments. This means they have to increase their agility to respond to varying requests from different groups of users, increase infrastructure flexibility, and improve the utilization of the current resources. To answer these needs, traditional approaches and modes of IT management are often insufficient. We consequently propose a process model for public sector IT departments so that they can adjust their operations as a response to digitalization efforts, for example, smart cities and digital transformation. Our focus is especially on improving the IT development process within the organization, i.e., how the IT department can better respond to the needs of business units. Our findings show that the adjustments require changes both in management and daily operations. Moreover, changes should not be done only internally within the IT department, but also the whole organization should be involved

Structural Ambidexterity through Bimodal IT – A Literature Review and Research Agenda

Bimodality of the information technology (IT) function is one answer to the changed expectations towards and perceptions of IT’s role within an organization. Bimodal IT aims at leveraging ambidextrous capabilities, allowing to engage in explorative and exploitative activities at the same time. Research interest of this phenomenon is growing, but there is a lack of cumulative knowledge on bimodal IT including research on the related concepts of structural ambidexterity and IT ambidexterity. Through a systematic literature review of 42 papers published in a wide range of academic outlets, we identify and describe four research themes which are summarized in a conceptual model of forms of bimodal IT, antecedents, facilitators and barriers, and outcomes. Furthermore, we discuss the critique the phenomenon is facing in practice and propose a research agenda. The study contributes to both research and practice by synthesizing existing knowledge and providing guidance for further research

Information Technology Certification Value: An Initial Response from Employers

This article looks at the value of certification from the employer\u27s perspective. It is perhaps the first study in this area that gathers data directly from employers. A survey of directors of university information technology departments is analyzed, and the results indicate limited support for certifications being valued assets of their employees. While not sufficiently strong enough to warrant generalization of the results to business in general, with this information, students and professionals should be able to better prepare themselves for finding employment and academic programs can better evaluate the appropriateness of the inclusion of certification training in their curricula